Ted Kooser




November 29

                                 Breezy and warm.

A round hay bale,
brown and blind, all shoulders,
huddled, bound tightly
in sky blue nylon twine.
Just so I awoke this morning,
wrapped in fear.

Oh, red plastic flag on a stick
stuck into loose gravel,
driven over, snapped off,
propped up again and again,
give me your courage.